Reactivating public space.

The No Barriers Project identifies physical barriers between diverse communities in Charlotte, NC, that act as real and symbolic divides in order to encourage communities to work together to connect, create, and celebrate.

Challenge: Anita Stroud Park rests between three neighborhoods in Charlotte with no sense of ownership among any of the residents, thus increasing the social gap between them.

Insight: Light, sound, and play can bring people together to create comfortable spaces for interaction and conversation.

Outcome: Through the curation of a designed event, residents gathered in the park, transformed the existing space through glowing modular blocks and games and enjoyed catered food and music together. Thirty-six custom-built modular blocks prompted conversation, were moved, arranged into games, rearranged, stacked into forts, propped up as benches and tables, and drawn on by residents of all ages. The event was documented by ariel and ground video and photography and user feedback was gathered.